Dear all
Thanks to those who responded to my enquiry about using screen sharing software for subject enquiries last month.
Best wishes
David
Use of screen sharing software for online information training - survey of results (12 responses)
The following software is used by more than one respondent
Skype (x3)
Skype for screen sharing even with international calls for occasional one-to-one demonstrations/training, and sometimes it is good and others not so good. On the pros it is free and available internationally.
The cons are that how well it works depends on the equipment and phone line used by the parties involved and traffic at the time of call
I use Skype. Very simple to use. Free. Can be used with or without video. Easy to register. http://www.skype.com/intl/en-gb/get-skype/
Jing (x2)
Jing (http://www.techsmith.com/jing.html). Produced by same firm which makes Camtasia but simpler.
Simple free and simple but does the job
The following software is used by one respondent
Adobe Connect (Nee Breeze)
AnyMeeting
proved pretty good free option - enables up to 200 people to participate for free.
Join me
I have had success with https://join.me/ apart from yesterday when someone within a Government network couldn't see the screenshare at all, probably due to the organisational network settings
GO TO MEETING
but doesn't work with overseas numbers
LivePerson.
My (large university) library has a chat reference tool called LivePerson. Technically, LivePerson allows screen pushes, in which I push my screen to the patron, though I honestly don't use it very often, but we haven't done anything with taking over a patron's screen.
OCS Live Meeting
since last summer I've been using it pretty successfully.
Screencastomatic
free and very basic but does the job.
The following software is being considered or has yet to be tried and tested
Blackboard Collaborate (x3)
I was just prompted to try Zipcast when I joined SlideShare.
Team Viewer (intended for for use with IT problems)
Some Email providers permit screen sharing - has advantage of being part of the overall software infrastructure
Issues
The need for telephone headsets has been highlighted - may result I having to upgrade existing telephones!
Some systems do not work well for overseas students or may fall foul of firewalls
Conclusion
Large range of software options available. Not all have been tried and tested. Most which have been tried seem ' to do the job' ; Skype is most widely used in this sample .
Best wishes
David
David Pulford
Subject Adviser (Art History, Music, Philosophy, Theology & Religion)
Library Services
Academic Services
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TT
Tel: 0121 415 8775
Fax: 0121 414 5853
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http://www.library.bham.ac.uk/
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